Botox® relaxes the muscles under the skin to create a smooth look that is cool and relaxed. The procedure takes approximately 15 minutes, it is non-invasive and there is little to no downtime. You’ll emerge from the spa with a fresh, youthful appearance that will last for months. Common treatment areas include: Lines between eyebrows, crows feet, forehead lines and neck lines.

Juvederm® is composed primarily of a natural bodily substance, hydraulic acid; a substance that assists in hydration, thus promoting volume. The gel filler is injected under the skin to create smooth, natural looking skin that is soft to the touch. The procedure takes around 15-20 minutes and the results are instant. Better yet, there is little to no recovery time! You know what that means? You can schedule a treatment during your lunch break and return to work looking healthy and rejuvenated. Everyone will wonder how you achieved that youthful glow in such a minimal amount of time!

Latisse® is an eyelash enhancement solution that helps to improve eyelash growth, volume and color. Why settle for mascara that only creates a temporary illusion of longer, fuller and darker lashes when you can permanently enhance your own natural lashes? Mascara is basically a cover up, a master of illusion that can actually cause your lashes to become dry, brittle and weak. An eyelash enhancement treatment is a great alternative to traditional mascara because it actually stimulates eyelash growth, helps to improve fullness and may even darken your lashes. Don’t settle for potentially harmful cosmetics when you can achieve the same beauty benefits naturally.

Don’t miss out this amazing opportunity!  Click here  to visit the Allergan website and start saving today!

Over the course of our lifetimes, it’s safe to say that we’ve all experienced at least one painfully, wretched sunburn. Whether it was the result of slathering on baby oil in a silly attempt to “out-tan” our friends, or simply heading out for a long day in the sun without protection, we’ve all learned the hard way.

90% of melanomas are caused by sun exposure and one would think that that information alone would cause everyone to reach for the sunscreen immediately. Even with that knowledge, some people just won’t give up their bronzing oil or tanning lotion for a little safety in the sun; but believe it or not, it IS possible to still get that super sexy bronzed skin without absorbing all of the harmful rays that can do damage. Yes, it’s true! There are so many tanning products available that contain enough SPF to protect the skin from burning while still allowing sun soakers to get all golden brown.

So, what’s SPF all about?

SPF stands for “Sun Protection Factor” and measures “time to burn.”  The SPF number indicates the amount of protection that a sunscreen provides. In other words, if your skin would burn in 10 minutes in the afternoon sun without any protection, and you applied a sunscreen with an SPF 15, you would have 15 x 10 = 150 minutes (2.5 hours) before you would burn.

How much protection are you actually getting?

SPF 15 = 92%

SPF 30 = 97%

SPF 40 = 97.5%

There has always been controversy about very high SPF numbers and just how much more protection they truly provide. The difference of protection between SPF 15 and SPF 30 is great (5%), but the difference between SPF 30 and SPF 40 is minimal (0.5%). When heading out into the sunshine, always start with a higher-SPF sunscreen in order to have protection for the entire time that you are exposed. Once your calculated “time to burn” has expired, your skin has absorbed all the UV rays that I can handle before it will start to burn. At this point, it is best to seek some shelter and give your skin a rest before exposing it to more rays.

Things to remember when choosing sunscreen:

• UVB rays are responsible for Burning and affect the top layers of the skin.
• UVA rays are responsible for Aging and affect the lower layers of the skin.
•  Although all sunscreens protect from UVB rays only “Broad-Spectrum” sunscreens protect from both UVB and UVA rays.
• ALWAYS buy a sunscreen that is broad-spectrum!

2)   Go Ahead, Feed Your Face

It doesn’t take a genius to understand that when we’re healthy on the inside, it shows on the outside. Often times we rely on cosmetic products and procedures to help us look and feel our best, but the truth is, healthy skin starts from within. Collagen, the structural protein that holds our skin together, plays a significant role in the appearance of our skin. As we age, the production of collagen begins to slowly decrease; resulting in unwanted fine lines and wrinkles. With that said, you’re probably wondering how we can defy this process and replenish our collagen levels?  While skin care procedures and cosmetic products can work very well for most, the truth is…there’s no quick fix.  However, by nourishing your body with the right foods you stand a much better chance of retaining some of your natural, youthful glow. Here is a list of foods that may help to retain and even boost collagen levels:

• Fish is chock-full of omega-3 fatty acids that protect the skin cells.
•  Soy promotes collagen production and helps to block enzymes that can age the skin (ex. soymilk, tofu).
•  Red vegetables contain lycopene, a natural form of SPF that protects the skin from damage (ex. tomatoes, beets).
•  Citrus fruits and green vegetables that contain vitamin C can increase collagen production (ex. oranges, lemons, spinach, kale).
•  White tea helps support cell structure.
•  Orange vegetables that contain vitamin A can help restore damaged collagen (ex. carrots, sweet potatoes).

FDA has notified health care professionals and warned consumers not to use skin creams, beauty and antiseptic soaps or lotions that might contain the toxic metal mercury. These products, found in at least seven states, claim to be skin lighteners and anti-aging treatments that remove age spots, freckles, blemishes and wrinkles. Adolescents may use them to treat acne. They are manufactured abroad and sold illegally in the United States—often in shops in Latino, Asian, African or Middle Eastern neighborhoods, and online—or brought to the U.S. from other countries. FDA and state health officials have found more than 35 products containing unacceptable levels of mercury.

Risk: Mercury poisoning can cause damage to the kidneys and the nervous system, and interfere with brain development in unborn children and very young children.

Recommendations

• Check the label of any skin lightening, anti-aging, or other skin product. If there is no label or no ingredients listed, do not use the product.
• Do not use—or immediately stop using—products that list these ingredients: mercurous chloride, calomel, mercuric, mercurio or mercury.
• Thoroughly wash hands and any other body parts that have come in contact with the product.
• Contact a health care professional or medical clinic for advice.

For more information

• Consumer Update: Mercury Poisoning Linked to Skin Products